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• Seek to use conservation easement or acquisition opportunities through funding sources such as PONC, <br />etc., once critical habitat areas are identified as priorities to protect. <br />• Seek to protect with easements or acquire suitable important coastal lands that would protect <br />viewsheds, provide the public with access to scenic viewing areas, or otherwise promote appropriate <br />coastal recreation and subsistence. <br />• Support the efforts of landowners in establishing conservation and agricultural easements to preserve <br />important resources in perpetuity. <br />See also Policy 47 for a policy related to prioritizing community accesses in the Hamakua Planning Area. <br />Policy 16: <br />Support the proposed Hakalau NWR Expansion Project. <br />See also Policy 42 regarding effective management of watersheds and natural areas and Policy 46 regarding <br />trails to forest reserves. <br />6.4 Ecosystems and Watersheds <br />Policy 41: <br />Increase capacity to provide education and outreach and enforce conditions on grading and grubbing permits <br />to require screen planting, erosion control planting, or other treatments to maintain the good appearance of <br />graded areas, reduce the detrimental impact on adjacent properties, and protect watersheds. (HCC 10-12 (c)) <br />Policy 42: <br />To further watershed management goals, collaborate with the Department of Health, the Mauna Kea <br />Watershed Alliance, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Department of Land and Natural <br />Resource: DOFAW Division, and the Soil and Water Conservation District to reduce runoff, maximize soil and <br />water conservation, and protect and effectively manage watersheds and natural areas. (HRS 342D, HAR 11-54- <br />3, GP 4.3(g), 5.2(e) & (f), 5.3(e), (n), & (o), and 8.2(e) & (j)) <br />The County could participate in watershed planning in the following ways: <br />1. Build staff capacity and provide training to support development and implementation of stream <br />management plans; <br />2. Initiate a conservation planning process for priority watersheds with Conservation Technical Assistance <br />(CTA) from NRCS; <br />3. Enter into a partnership agreement with the Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance via MOU Process; <br />4. Work with partners such as UH Hilo, Hawaii Community College, Hawaii County Research and <br />Development, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and Kohala Center on a pilot program to train <br />UH/HCC students to assist with Conservation Planning. (GP 8.3 (e), (k), (j), (/)),- <br />5. <br />1));s. Support best management practices through various regulatory review processes conducted by the <br />department; such as farm dwelling permits and conservation permits, and through environmental <br />reviews of publicly leased lands; <br />6. Identify streams and stream corridors as candidates for further protections, and once identified, <br />prioritize and seek to acquire corridors for further management; <br />z Collaborate with the Waipi'o Valley community in implementing the Waipi'o Valley Stream <br />Management Plan. <br />The above actions can be implemented independently of each other and do not reflect prioritization by their <br />listing order. The goal of this policy is that the County becomes actively involved in watershed planning. <br />Hamakua CDP Land Use Planner's Guide 18 <br />